Activity+Theory+assignment

SHAWNTEL'S SUMMARY-**COMMUNITY-SUBJECT-OBJECT** triangle

The community of this app is the community of US veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have been diagnosed with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). There may be tensions between the community and individual subjects (users of the app) because of insults, perceived disrespect of norms or because the subject is exhibiting signs of stress at a level that needs to be addressed. The implication for design here is that there needs to be a way, in the app, for the community to insulate themselves from a user (block) or even try to reach out to intervene and help a user (“concerned” button).

The tensions between the community and the “object” or the actually messaging and discussion forums, where new practices are being formed would lie in how the community sees these things as being useful and personal in a way that will enable them to be motivated to change their practice. For example, the community might want to actually add or delete resources from the list; be able to chat with small, chosen groups of people: or have the discussion board broken into smaller geographic areas within the provinces to enable even more personalization. This tension would probably arise due to an increased number of users. The design implications here is both to monitor a feedback system in order to use that feedback in future updates, and also to build in growth points where the app automatically adds resources as they became known, adds cities to provinces as users in certain provinces increase, and be open to beta testing other communication avenues as needed.

Finally, between the subject (individual user, a veteran diagnosed with PTSD) and the object (the discussion forums, messaging and resources that are enabling the subject to form a community and change his/her practice) there may be tensions. First of all, the subject may not be used to using social media to communicate personal things and so the subject may not actively engage. Implications for design here include making sure the app is easy to use and that community managers are watchful for these users and find ways to engage them in conversation. Secondly, the subject may not see the point of the app as being a place to "heal" and change practice; he or she may see it as a place to just tell stories or to just blast his/her thoughts out. Implications for design lie in being able to reward helpful interactions through valuing and stars, as well as intervene through the "concern" button. Again, community managers will be key in resolving this tension as well.


 * Debbie’s Summary – Subject-Rules-Roles triangle**

The Activity theory is concerned with how people work together, using tools (our app) toward outcomes (a place for veterans to share their stories). With our app, veterans with PTSD, team leaders, moderator’s (stewards) and health care professionals interact with each other enabling veterans to share their stories and connect with one another in a secure environment. Activity systems are also constrained by divisions of labor (roles) and by rules. The rules in many respects are our mutual agreement about how the activity (storing telling) will be carried out so all members can progress toward the outcome (connecting). One way that activity theory helps us more fully understand the “context” of a community and its tools is by providing a summary outlining the important elements and their relationships. Below are some of the questions I addressed when considering some of the challenges we may incur in our design process.

Subjects: Military veterans diagnosed with PTSD including all ranks (officer and enlisted), team leaders and Psychologists (help line). A possible tension between subject and roles could be encountered. The military is a unique cultural entity in which clinicians (psychologists) should have a fundamental working knowledge of the customs, values, and traditions in order to practice competently. The military culture includes a language, a code of manners, norms of behavior, belief systems, dress, and rituals. The ability to understand and appreciate the military culture and to tailor clinical practices based on that understanding and appreciation is imperative for the clinicians (psychologists) working with service members. The design team addresses this by only selling this application to the Veterans Administration where clinicians are culturally competent.

Rules: Rules mediate the interaction of the participants in a community. “Rule” is a key factor for the success of our app especially when the sharing of stories is so personal. Some questions I considered when trying to see what tensions could arise are the following: What seems to be the rules, guidelines, conventions (spoken and unspoken, formal and informal) governing the use of this application (tool). Does everyone in the community seem to have the same idea about what these rules are? What happens when people break any of these rules? Tensions may arise between Rules and Subjects when a service member feels he or she is being criticized or judged for his or her actions while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. The military is a massive “club” that lets in many but retains only those who are able to function within its prescribed rules and boundaries. It promotes camaraderie, cohesion, unity, and reliance on others, all of which are conducive to giving one a sense of connectedness. For these reasons the community will lead and regulate itself.

Roles: PTSD veteran, leadership teams (include veterans diagnosed with PTSD and military personnel with combat experience), community moderator, and health care professionals. Questions considered: Who is responsible for what part of this app (tool)? How is the work pertaining to this tool divided up? Tensions between Rules and Roles may come into play when a participant breaks the rules by being abusive or slamming others. The leadership teams put in place would e-mail this participant and let them know that their behavior is not acceptable and remind them of the purpose of this community.


 * Jonathan's Summary:**
 * Object- Rules- Community**

Definition of object/objects in regards to the PTS Veterans Application: The object of the PTS Veterans Application Community of Practice is for subjects to share the problems associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with the community for help on improving their practice in dealing with these problems. These objects are the problems which become the tasks the subjects and community overall will act on. The subjects will share their problems in a variety of ways to include sharing stories, sharing how they are feeling, sharing specific experiences, and what hey are struggling with on a daily basis. The other subjects in the community will assist fellow subjects in dealing with their respective problems, therefore helping them improve their practice.

Object- Rules Analysis: Objects are shared with the community in accordance with the rules, which are the norms and common practices established by the community. Tension can occur in the community from the manner in which the objects are shared with the community if they violate the norms. Objects can be shared in a positive way such as through storytelling. If objects are shared through negative behavior such as insulting, or flaming a fellow subject, or one subject threatens a fellow subject, this will create tension in the community and it will be other subjects from the community that enforce the behavior standards of the community.

Objects- Community Analysis: The problems presented in the community will be problems veterans are having associated with PTSD. These problems can be memories they have of certain events, whether traumatic or positive from their combat experience. The problems presented can also be associated with the day-to-day problems veterans are dealing with that are associated with PTSD. Tension can occur in the community and between subjects if the objects presented to the community are not related to the domain or practice of PTSD

Rules –Community Analysis: The rules the community operates by are set by the subjects that make up the community. Rule setting is part of cultivating the community of practice. The subjects will determine how subjects will collaborate and share their practice. The subjects will determine acceptable behavior and will correct unwanted behavior if necessary. Tension can occur in the community when the rules are not followed, and could affect the rhythm of the community which is an indicator of life in a Community of Practice.

The Object –Rules-Community Triangle Analysis: In the PTS Veterans application community of practice the relationship between the Object, Rules, and Community will work with Veterans sharing their problems in (Object) dealing with PTSD in the form of a story with fellow members (Subjects) of the community. The community enforces the standards of behavior (Rules) for the sharing of problems (Objects) and helping other members (Subjects) in the community with their problems. When problems (Objects) are presented by community members (Subjects) that are not related to PTSD or other standards of behavior (Rules) are not adhered to, it is up to the members (Subject) of the community to enforce standards. Members (Subjects) cultivate the community by encouraging others, sharing knowledge, and enforcing existing norms (Rules). When the relationship between the Object-Rules-Community triangle does not work in this manner then tension can occur within the community.


 * Harmoni's Summary: Community- Tools- Subject**

The community of our application, Stories of the Flag, is a community of veterans who fought in Iraq and/or Afghanistan and who have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) (subject). All community members would have been professionally diagnosed and given a code in order to access Stories of the Flag. However, although all individuals share the commonality of PTSD, it does not necessarily mean that all individuals will work well together. Stories of the Flag is a smart phone application (tool) that will hopefully provide a catalyst for a Community of Practice to be formed within in. Because issues can arise amongst individuals, a way in which to monitor the application and one's use of the application must be in place. Allowing members to either block one another when needed or to help them out when they feel concerned is a way in which our tool can be used. Additionally, other tools that need to be provided are resources for help and assistance. These resources can be found in the form of a help provider's website information and link or by calling the help contact number. These aspects are crucial in providing a secure place where veterans can share and connect through their storytelling.

Tensions could not only lie amongst the individual users in the community, but with the tools as well. Although the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are most recent and within the technological age, it does not necessarily mean that all veterans diagnosed with PTSD either know how to work an application or have a smart phone. Stories of the Flag is the only smart phone application that enables a Community of Practice to be created and storytelling to act as a therapy. Seeing these advantages, what would occur when a veteran with PTSD is not comfortable using such tools? Is there a way that the Veteran's group (WHAT IS THE NAME?) could provide training or a smart phone for the specific use of this application?

The veterans (subject) who participate in the application will be using the tools that have been set forth by the design team with the assistance of the Veteran's group (NAME!?). Although not all individuals with access to Stories of the Flag will be active participants, they will be participating. Lurking counts! PTSD tools and resources are provided when needed and a community of veterans who all have a common diagnosis of PTSD will be available to listen when a story is shared.

The subject of the Stories of the Flag app is a veteran of either the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts that have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and given access to use the app by authorized personnel. By using the app, they believe that connecting with others in a secure environment will be therapeutic and beneficial to their condition. The community is the group of app users as a whole who interact with each other through the app and other means outside of the app itself. The rules are both explicit as part of the coding and design of the app, and implicit based on social norms, practices, and acceptances stemming from the community and the subjects . The implied **rules** for the **subject** include treating the community with respect, keeping interaction with the community private, providing support to other members of the community, being truthful and honest when communicating with the community and using the application in its indented way. The explicit rules for the subject are built into the app and include how to create a profile, post communications to the community, “value” community members, communicate directly with other members, find others that are nearby in the community, express concern for other members and to reach out for external help and support.
 * Trey's Summary: Community- Rules- Subject**

The implied **rules** for the **community** include creation of common phrases and language, sharing of experiences, positivity, creating acceptable use practices, creating value for the subject, and supporting the subjects. Rules that are built into the app for the community include ways to block unwanted communication, ways to express concern for a troubled subject, and ways to express approval to subjects and their communications.

The **subject** participates in the **community** by reading posts and commenting, creating new posts, supporting other users through direct communication, expressing concern for troubled members, adapting the acceptable use practices of the community, using common phrases and tones of the community, and valuing others in the community.

In the activity triangle of **Subject – Rules – Community**, the subject uses the application to share experiences with the community. The subject must participate in order to be a part of the community. The app allows the subject to post his experiences so that the community can read about it. The community can show support by commenting on the post and valuing it through a rating system. Members of the community can value the subject by making direct contact with the subject through the app and by adding the subject to a favorites area. The community can also express concern as well as disapproval when a subject acts inappropriately, or if a subject appears to be in distress. The community may develop rules of communication such as the use of certain common phrases to show approval (ex HOOAH). The community may also develop a sense of acceptable use and may act in agreement when someone violates this policy (such as an over-poster, or negative-poster etc). Unwanted or undesirable communication can be blocked by a subject. Those in the community that live in close proximity may choose to interact in ways outside of the scope of the app, and national events could even be organized as the community grows. The community may also develop rules about what language is appropriate for use as well as what language signals distress. ___ //This is a group project to be done in design groups. // //Use Activity Theory to better understand learners in your design project. // //Place your //persona// in the subject position in the diagram and analyze the effects of the activity as they move toward the outcome. Write up the tensions from each point in the system.  You may divide the analysis or work together. Report the analysis (2-3 pages) including insights for improving the learning design. One report is due from each design group. Please make sure your name is included in one of the reports.

(My suggestion-Deleted.....Shawntel. I am open to whatever anyone else proposes. Let me know what I need to do.) After Paul's class it was clear that we had to do a summary implementing 3 of the 6 steps. I highlighted the 3 I will put together.

1. Subject. The actors involved in the activity

2. Instruments. Theories and methods, resources, supports, and online tools and environments that mediate the activity-

3. Object. Products acted on by the subjects during the activity.

4. Community. Sociocultural context in which the activity takes place

5. Rules. Implicit and explicit rules and norms of the community that constrain the activity. **-**

6. Division of Labor. Horizontal and vertical roles and relationships within the community that affect task division.

7. Outcome. Transformation of the objects; the overall intention of the activity system -

THE DIVISION OF TRIANGLE (groups) - just post your paragraphs under your triangle heading below:

Shawn- Object- Subject- Community or similar

Harmoni- Community- Tool- Subject

Debbie- Community-Tool-Object

Jonathan- Object-Rules-Community

Trey- Subject-Community-Rules